Vitamin D has many roles in the body, but the most important is to prevent rickets. Rickets include a group of diseases in which there is a disorder of mineralization (incorporation of calcium and phosphorus) in the bone growing. The most common reason for lack of mineralization is the lack of vitamin D, which is necessary for the installation of calcium in cartilage and bone.

There is no enough vitamin D in breast milk, but it creates in the skin, under the influence of sunlight. In infants living in areas with moderate or cold climates, the creation of vitamin D in the skin does not meet the needs of the organism. Because of this, children in the past often sickened by rickets. Today the disease is successfully prevented by the addition of vitamin D in the form of drops, or in the composition of the adapted milk formula for infants.

At what age we give babies vitamin D?

Except in the areas with tropical and subtropical climate, where the babies from birth are exposed to sufficient amounts of sunlight, in the rest of the world vitamin D is administrated in the form of drops. From 15 days of life until the age of one year, we give our babies vitamin D. Children born during the winter months should take vitamin D and after their first birthday, until spring.

How much vitamin D should be given to the baby?

Dose that is sufficient to prevent rickets is 400IU per day, and the number od drops depends on the strength of the preparation, prescribed by a pediatrician.

What is better: water or oil solution of vitamin D?

Since vitamin D is fat soluble and is not soluble in water, oil solution is better and more natural. All preferred preparations of vitamin D and AD, which can be found in the market, are in the form of oil solution.

Which way we give vitamin?

In infant we give vitamin D with spoon. Since the amount of the preparation is small (usually one or two drops), first in the spoon we put some milk (breast or formula), and then we add the prescribed number of drops, and give the baby to swallow.

Does the baby need to take vitamin A too?

Only infants that are fed with cow’s milk need it, because cow milk does not contain sufficient quantity of this vitamin. However, this milk it is not recommended in the first year of life due to the risk of allergies.

Is there rickets in children who receive the right dose of vitamin D?

Unfortunately, there is. This is the vitamin D-resistant rickets, which is caused by inborn error in the metabolism of vitamin D, or is the result of another disease (renal or intestinal).

The fontanel is closed? Does the baby still need vitamin D drops?

Yes! Although when we have rickets the fontanel stays wide open longer, doesn’t mean that the baby don’t need vitamin D when the fontanel is closed. The reasons for premature closure of the fontanel are not caused by an overdose of vitamin D, nor will its abolition eliminate them. Most often it comes to “false alarm”. In fact, in a number of completely normal infants, large fontanel is closed at three months, but the head is still continuing to grow until the sutures between the bones do not grow together. Those kids are taking vitamin D as well as the other, at least until the first birthday.

Sun exposure

From the aspect of the creation of vitamin D in the skin the baby have to be taken out on sunlight. In recent years, we have witnessed excessive fear of UV radiation. However, without the sun we can’t live. In the morning and evening when the sun’s rays fall on the surface of the earth under the smallest angle, it is safe to take the baby out on sun. This means that we should avoid direct sun, but it is necessary at least a little sunshine to work on the baby skin and encourage the creation on vitamin D in it.